Hawaiian Gardens : Recall Petition Approved; Deadline for Signatures Set

A group seeking to recall Mayor Kathleen Navejas has until July 28 to circulate and file its petition. City Clerk Carol Dorfmeyer has approved the form and wording of the petition. A second recall petition, filed by another group calling for the recall of Councilman Domenic Ruggeri, is still being reviewed by the city.

Joe (Cabrera) Zermeno, the leader of the effort to recall Navejas, has accused the second-term councilwoman of 10 alleged offenses, ranging from abuse of power to corrupting the voting process. She has denied the charges and, in turn, has accused Zermeno of harassment.

Zermeno served Navejas with a recall intent notice April 28. In an unusual move, Navejas immediately had the notice copied, crossed out her name and printed in Ruggeri’s name, and asked resident Rene Flores to sign it. Flores then gave the notice to Ruggeri. Navejas contends that Ruggeri is behind the recall move against her. He has denied the charge, labeling Navejas’ action “total harassment.”

Dorfmeyer said that Zermeno and his supporters must obtain the valid signatures of 879 registered voters in Hawaiian Gardens to get the Navejas recall on the ballot.